Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a standardized environmental product declaration that provides quantified and verified information on a product’s environmental impact throughout its entire lifecycle. It enables the comparison of products with the same function in terms of their ecological performance.
EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) are based on a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in accordance with the ISO 14040 standard series. They provide detailed data on various environmental aspects, including:
- Resource Consumption: Information on energy, water, and renewable resource usage.
- Emissions: Data on emissions into air, water, and soil.
- Environmental Impact: Evaluations of factors such as global warming potential, ozone depletion, acidification, eutrophication, and resource depletion.
Steps in Creating an EPD
The development of an EPD follows several key steps:
- Definition of the Product Category: Establishing specific rules and requirements for the product group, known as Product Category Rules (PCR).
- Conducting the LCA: Collecting and analyzing data throughout the product’s entire life cycle.
- Creating the EPD: Documenting the results in a standardized format.
- Verification: Independent third-party review to ensure accuracy and reliability of the information.
Purpose and Benefits of EPDs
EPDs primarily serve transparency, allowing companies to openly communicate the environmental impact of their products. They are particularly relevant in the B2B sector but can also help environmentally conscious consumers make informed purchasing decisions.
For manufacturing companies facing complex CO₂ accounting challenges, EPDs offer several key advantages:
- Transparency: Disclosing environmental impact strengthens trust among business partners and customers.
- Competitive Advantage: Products with a lower ecological footprint can stand out positively from competitors.
- Compliance: EPDs support adherence to regulatory requirements and sustainability standards.
- Efficiency Improvement: Life cycle analysis helps optimize internal processes and improve resource efficiency.
